WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for House of the Dragon and Fire & Blood!In George R.R. Martin’s novels, Aegon The Conqueror has two wives, but in House of the Dragon Rhaenyra Targaryen is only allowed one. Years before the reign of Viserys I, Aegon I ruled on the iron throne while married to two women. Aegon I married his older sister, Visenya, to secure his succession. He married his other sister, Rhaenys, for love.
However, in House of the Dragon, Rhaenyra is unable to have two husbands. Rhaenyra marries Ser Laenor Velaryon in season 1, episode 5 for political reasons despite having feelings for Daemon Targaryen, her cousin. Rhaenyra can’t marry Daemon until Laenor is dead. In order to get around this, in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 7, Rhaenyra, Laenor, and Daemon work together to fake Laenor’s death so the two Targaryens can marry.
There are several reasons Aegon could have multiple wives but Rhaenyra cannot. Aegon had married both women before he took over Westeros. Therefore, by the time Aegon ascended the throne, the High Septon could not do much to oppose it. Rhaenyra, on the other hand, would have to wed two men while already in a position of power and in the public eye. The High Septon would have the ability to disallow the marriage. Secondly, in the House of the Dragon universe, the rules for men are not the same as the rules for women. Women have much less freedom than men, as seen in the controversy around Rhaenyra’s claim to the iron throne because she is a woman. It could be that Rhaenyra is unable to marry twice, as her ancestor did, because of the restraints on women in the time period.
Did Other Targaryens Have Multiple Wives?
Years after Viserys I’s reign, King Maegor I Targaryen, also known as Maegor the Cruel, had six wives. However, he was doing this in spite of the Faith Militant who tried to oppose him. He is remembered as one of the most brutal Kings to reign over Westeros. Even later, the bastard son of Daena Targaryen and King Aegon IV Targaryen, Daemon I Blackfyre, was promised he could have two wives, but ultimately it was not allowed.
Clearly, the concept of multiple spouses, while not unheard of, is not commonplace in the House of the Dragon universe. Several questions about the concept are left unanswered by the show thus far. Always full of complicated relationships, hopefully, audiences will have their questions answered in upcoming episodes of House of the Dragon.
